Sunday, November 29, 2009

Photographer and Warthog News contributor Bruce Smith from United States took the following nice pictures of 23rd Fighter Group A-10Cs which participated in Red Flag 10-1 at Nellis AFB, Nevada, in October 2009. His unique shots are first-published on my blog. Caught are the following fourteen A-10Cs:

A-10C 79-0139, still without new unit markings, October 23, 2009. (Photo by Bruce Smith)Hi-res

Note: Info from my Warthog Aircraft Database is: 79-0139 (A10-0403) to AMARC as AC0199 20 Jan 2000; returned to service 14 Apr 2000; 23rd FG, 23rd Wg (FT). But why this aircraft is still without new unit markings? For any first-hand info I would be very grateful.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Southworth employees who had a part in the Boeing A-10 project in Manila received a personal thank you Thursday for a job well done.

John Kopp, quality inspector for Boeing, was at Southworth's Manila manufacturing plant as the last of the seven lifts in the Boeing A10 project was being completed.

Southworth is well known for their capabilities of providing special order lifts of all types.

Kerry Pugh, Southworth plant manager, said this was a big project and he was proud of everyone who took part. The lifts will be used in repairing and assembling wings for the Boeing A-10 Thunderbolt airplanes. The Southworth lifts will position workers to assist in the assembling of the wings.

The machine itself weighs 12,200 pounds. It is 8x19' long and lifts workers up to eight feet.

"It is by far one of the largest biggest job we have done," Pugh said. "It has over 2,500 hours work involved at the Manila plant."

New technology was incorporated in the project. The 12,000 pound machine can be moved by one person using the air cushions installed. The air cushions, telescoping hand rails, telescoping ladder, were all new to the workers.

Representatives from Boeing visited the plant in Arkansas and Portland, Maine, (Southworth's headquarters), before the order was approved in June. Southworth had to be qualified as a supplier.

A lot of work went into the project including over 500 individual drawings, over 1,100 engineer design hours, and 375 component drawings. Each lift has 14,071 individual parts, 611 individual part numbers and 125 manufacturing assembly drawings.

The last of the seven machines were shipped on Friday.

Boeing is one of several of Southworth's customers requiring AWS certified welders.

"We are proud of our welders who recently completed the AWS certification," Pugh said. "They had the knowledge and the skill. It was just a matter of going through the process and getting an outside company to test the work of our welders."

OWEGO, NY, November 20th, 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $17.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for a software upgrade that integrates critical communications and situational awareness capabilities into the A-10C close air support fighter.

The software upgrade will provide improved pilot vehicle interface and enhanced weapons delivery. Also included with the upgrade are software baselines for the helmet-mounted cueing system that increase situational awareness through improved visual cues for the pilot, and the lightweight airborne recovery system that integrates search and rescue capability.

"This software upgrade is another critical achievement in the continued modernization of a proven weapon system. Armed with these latest enhancements, A-10C pilots can more quickly access the information they need to prevail on the battlefield," said Roger Il Grande, A-10 program director at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY.

The software upgrade is the third in an annual series planned for the A-10 and is scheduled for release in May 2011. The earlier two upgrades were also performed by Lockheed Martin; the first was fielded on schedule in May 2009 and the second is on target for release in May 2010.

The upgrades will be integrated in Lockheed Martin's A-10 Systems Integration Lab in Owego, NY. The lab is used by engineers and pilots to prototype software and hardware upgrades for operational validity before flight, to fully integrate aircraft avionics modifications to reduce development risk and cost, and to aid in pilot and maintainer familiarization of newly-deployed systems. Lockheed Martin leads an A-10 industry team that includes Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX and Northrop Grumman, St. Augustine, FL.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Owego, NY, November 5th, 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received three contracts totaling $7.7 million from the U.S. Air Force for the continued modernization and sustainment of the A-10 close air support fighter jet.

The contracts address the following content:

- A trade study to look for a new, more cost-efficient fuel system tester aimed at increasing overall maintenance effectiveness;- Integration of the Fuel Quantity Intermediate Device to help pilots more effectively manage onboard fuel reserves that will maximize time on station during training and combat operations;- Support of the Aircraft Structural Integrity Program to support safe flight operations, ensuring structural integrity of the A-10 fleet through the end of its service life.

"These three contracts continue our commitment to the A-10's long-term sustainment," said Roger Il Grande, A-10 program director at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY. "We are proud of our 12-year history in the modernization and sustainment of the A-10, where we continue to apply the knowledge we've acquired on the program to provide the Air Force with the most up-to-date and fully capable aircraft possible."

The three task orders are part of the Thunderbolt Lifecycle Program Support (TLPS), an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract that allows the U.S. Air Force to authorize up to $1.6 billion of aircraft support activity during an initial four-year order period followed by three two-year optional contract periods. Lockheed Martin was named as one of three associate prime contractors for TLPS in June 2009.

TLPS is the follow-on to the A-10 Prime Contract competitively awarded to Lockheed Martin in 1997. Much of the work to upgrade the aircraft to A-10C configuration with modern avionics, situational awareness and precision weapons capabilities was performed under a modification contract called Precision Engagement. Lockheed Martin will remain under contract to complete efforts that are underway, including work to provide Precision Engagement modification kits through 2011.

The Lockheed Martin A-10 industry team includes Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio TX; and Northrop Grumman, St. Augustine, FL. Lockheed Martin continues to operate the first-ever A-10 Systems Integration Lab at its Systems Integration – Owego facility. The lab is used by engineers and pilots to prototype software and hardware upgrades for operational validity before flight, to fully integrate aircraft avionics modifications to reduce development risk and cost, and to aid in pilot and maintainer familiarization of newly-deployed systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

11/23/2009 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- More than 160 Moody Airmen recently returned home after participating in the Red Flag 10-1 combat training exercise Oct. 19 to Oct. 30, held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

With 1,300 servicemembers combined, including individuals from two other countries, exercise participants were able to practice the skills needed to be successful while in a deployed location. One major advantage to the training was Airmen getting the opportunity to work with personnel and assets from other various bases.

"This opportunity to interact with other platforms allowed us a more diverse training experience than we normally receive," said Lt. Col. Derek Oaks, 75th Fighter Squadron commander. "Although we were dealing with different environments, timelines and scenarios than we typically do, we were able to successfully adapt and integrate with these other bases and their equipment.

"This type of training environment may have pushed some people out of their comfort zones, but that was the intended purpose," he added. "One intelligence analyst Airman mentioned that he learned more while at Nellis AFB than he has learned in the past year, which says a lot about the caliber and intensity of this training exercise."

The exercise also afforded Airmen the opportunity to witness and participate in the deployment and return of multiple aircraft.

"At Moody, the maintainers might only see a couple of aircraft here or there depart and then come back," said Capt. Jeremy Johnston, 75th Fighter Squadron D-flight commander. "During the exercise, we all got to see massive waves of offensive-type fighter jets become airborne, twice a day. Seeing this gets you excited and you get the feeling like you're really going to deploy."

During the 12-day exercise, Moody Airmen helped load nearly 200 sorties, which were more varied than at home base, and they accomplished them with limited resources.

"This exercise helped reaffirm how effective we are at generating and loading sorties," said Colonel Oaks. "At times, there was only a half-hour turnaround time, and at others, we didn't have access to all of our assets or parts we'd usually have, but that didn't stop us from excelling."

During the exercise's debrief, the Airmen got to hear details about what was effective and how to fix what was not effective.

"Nellis AFB has individuals trained to use enemy tactics, which we obviously utilized during the Red Flag exercise as training aids," said Captain Johnston. "During the debrief with these individuals, we were able to dig deeper, ask some questions and adjust our tactics accordingly so we would be able to successfully accomplish the mission in a deployed location."

The next major training exercise that Moody assets will participate in is tentatively scheduled for 2010.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

As reported by Warthog News, three unmarked A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, left Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for Continental United States (CONUS) October 24, 2009. Serial numbers were: 81-0952, 81-0978, and 81-0984. One of them - A-10 81-0978 - was photographed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, home of the 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), November 18, 2009 (It looks to me that all three former Spang Hogs joined the 355th):

Lini Koria, 19, University of Arizona girls' softball team catcher and infielder, holds a replica of a bullet and learns more about the lethal effects of the A-10's 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun during a tour here November 18, 2009. Fourteen players from the softball team visited the base to play a game of kickball with children at the Davis-Monthan Youth Center. After the game, they were provided with a tour of an A-10 display. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

Note: The aircraft in the background is A-10 81-0978.

A-10 81-0978 landing at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover October 24, 2009. All former unit markings are painted over in a lighter grey tone. (Photo by André Inácio)

Lini Koria, 19, University of Arizona girls' softball team catcher and infielder, holds a replica of a bullet and learns more about the lethal effects of the A-10's 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun during a tour here November 18, 2009. Fourteen players from the softball team visited the base to play a game of kickball with children at the Davis-Monthan Youth Center. After the game, they were provided with a tour of an A-10 display. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

Note: The aircraft in the background is A-10 81-0978, one of three unmarked A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, which left Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for Continental United States (CONUS) October 24, 2009. Serial numbers were: 81-0952, 81-0978, and 81-0984.

Brittany Lastrapes, 20, University of Arizona girls' softball team outfielder, looks at the refueling control panel of an A-10 here November 18, 2009. Fourteen players from the Arizona Wildcats visited the base, toured an A-10 display, and played a game of kickball with children from Davis-Monthan's Youth Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

Brittany Lastrapes, 20, University of Arizona girls' softball team outfielder, looks at the A-10's nose landing gear bay here, November 18, 2009. Through their community outreach program, 14 players from the University of Arizona's girls' softball team visited the Davis-Monthan Youth Center to play a game of kickball with the children and tour an A-10 display. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

Friday, November 20, 2009

SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – Three A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, taxi toward the hardened aircraft shelters November 20, 2009. The A-10s joined with three others to form a six-ship aircraft formation that flew to a simulated deployed location during Operation Saber Crown 10-02. The aircraft in the foreground is A-10C 81-0965 with Sniper targeting pod on station 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar)Hi-res

Note:AOR means Area Of Responsibility (like U.S. Central Command's AOR which includes Afghanistan and Iraq)

On the Dutch Scramble Message Board, today it was posted: The 81FS launched a 7-ship at 09.00lcl as "Hawg1-7" and 6 of them overflew the base as a formation at 11.05 lcl and then landed. Nr.7 probably landed earlier on it's own. See topic

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Staff Sgt. Juliet Cruz and Staff Sgt. Kevin Semallie, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew team, reload an A-10 with a Guided Bomb Unit, GBU-38 (inert) following a sortie, upgrading the pilot for his next mission's requirements. The squadron generates all combat and training sorties in the 355th Fighter Wing by managing the efforts of Airmen in 13 different specialties who maintain A/OA-10 attack aircraft. The 355th AMXS provides safe, properly configured aircraft in order to meet the flying-hour program for three fighter squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smith)Hi-res

Staff Sgt. John Froehlich, a 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, checks an A-10C's oil level after its first flight of the day. The 355th AMXS develops and executes a scheduled maintenance plan to maintain long-term fleet health, while providing aircraft to support worldwide contingency taskings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smith)Hi-res

Staff Sgt. Joel Hamm, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, explains some of the inner workings of an A-10C Thunderbolt II to Jake McKay, Pilot for a Day participant, November 13, 2009. The Pilot for a Day program was designed to help children with disabilities or serious illnesses enjoy a day focused on them and their interest in aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

by Senior Airman Jamie L. Coggan355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/18/2009 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Fulfilling one of his dreams, Jake McKay, a 12-year-old Tucsonan with Cystic Fibrosis, toured the base Nov. 13 to learn more about aviation as this month's Pilot for a Day.

The purpose of the program is to provide local children with illnesses an enjoyable day completely devoted to them and their interest in aviation. To make his day more special, Jake received his own flight suit, complete with a personalized name tag, to wear during the day.

The group received a tour of the 358th Fighter Squadron, which included a visit to the life support section, to learn more about the gear the pilots wear when flying.

After that, they headed to the fire department where Staff Sgt. Noah Leiter, a firefighter, challenged Jake to put on all gear in under a minute like a real fireman. Jake won the challenge, donning his gear in 55 seconds. After being congratulated by the fire chief, he was taken out in one of the new fire trucks where he got to spray the fire hose.

Then Jake and his guests visited an A-10 static display where Jake sat in the cockpit and had the chance to ask their host pilot questions.

The group also visited the 79th Rescue Squadron's hangar to see an HC-130 static display, where Jake sat in the cockpit and toured the rest of the aircraft.

The next stop was the 55th Rescue Squadron, where Jake sat in the gunner's seat of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and pretended to shoot at enemies.

The group was treated to pizza at the 357th Fighter Squadron. After lunch they headed to the 355th Operations Support Squadron, where James experienced an A-10 simulator. The simulator replicates flying an aircraft over a virtual map as realistically as possible.

After that, Jake visited the control tower for a brief tour before heading home. While at the control tower he was presented with an "Honorary Air Traffic Controller" certificate and occupational badge.

The Pilot for a Day program originated at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1994 and has since been implemented at several other Air Force bases.

Pilot for a Day participant Jake McKay experiences an A-10 simulator at the 355th Operations Support Squadron November 13, 2009. The simulator replicates flying an aircraft over a virtual map as realistically as possible. As part of the program, Jake and his family were provided with a tour of the base, which included the chance to see the A-10 Thunderbolt II, an HC-130 Hercules and a HH-60 Pavehawk. This program benefits children of the Tucson community battling catastrophic illnesses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)Hi-res

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

From left: Staff Sgt. Allen Swearingen, Staff Sgt. Aaron Berkshire and Master Sgt. Troy Halsey. The trio poses in front of an A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" with individual certificates earned for its collective achievement as the 188th Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron's Load Crew of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2009. The trio was recognized during a Unit Training Assembly November 7, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Brambl) Hi-res

Note: The aircraft is A-10 78-0647, still without new tailcode. Info from my Warthog Aircraft Database: 78-0647 (A10-0267) to AMARC as AC0453 25 Mar 2005; returned to service; 184th FS, 188th FW (FS)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Originally released by Hurlburt Field Public Affairs already October 13, 2009. Re-released and first-known to me today by 23rd Wing Public Affairs:

Members of the Flying Tigers reunion explore an A-10C Thunderbolt II on the runway at Hurlburt Field, Florida, November 13, 2009. Three former pilots and crew chiefs of the 23rd Fighter Group, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., were honored with their names stenciled on the side of the plane. "I've read all the history books regarding this group, but these guys are the real heroes," said Col. Skip Hinman, 23rd Fighter Group commander. "Though just a few names are recognized today, they really symbolize all of the Flying Tigers and the planes we've flown."Hi-res

Tim O'Dell poses in the cockpit of A-10C 79-0141 named for his father, Leonard O'Dell. Hi-res

A-10C 81-0964 sits on the Hurlburt Field runway during a ceremony November 12, 2009.Hi-res

Two former members of the Flying Tigers pose in front of an A-10C Thunderbolt II on the Hurlburt Field runway November 13, 2009.Hi-res

Col. Skip Hinman, 23rd Fighter Group commander, speaks to the crowd at a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, November 12, 2009.Hi-res

According to Warthog News contributor André Inácio from Portugal, all three ex 81st Fighter Squadron A-10s enroute to CONUS departed Lajes Field, Azores, November 15, 2009 (after three weeks). Via e-mail, he told me: The cause was A-10 81-0984 had some problems in engine. But I don't have sure about this.

Unfortunately, André don't have any pictures of their departure.

Three unmarked A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, left Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for Continental United States (CONUS) October 24, 2009. Serial numbers are: 81-0952, 81-0978, and 81-0984.

Update:Posted on November 16, 2009 on the Dutch Scramble Message Board: The three ex-81FS A-10s that arrived at Lajes at the end of last month, finally departed to Pease ANGB this afternoon as Retro 01-03. The supporting KC-10 Gold 27 went to KWRI.

Dedicated in Love

This blog is dedicated to Marina Naumann, my latest female partner who died after incurable pancreas cancer on June 17, 2010, just only a half year after diagnosis. Marina was the second true wife in my life, and she always supported my long-year enthusiastic research work on the Hog, especially since the beginning of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Rest in peace, Marina.